It’s that time of year again where I get to spend a little more time in my office which means I get to catch up on my blogging! This is one of my most favorite things to do but it always falls to the wayside during wedding season because my editing load is astronomical. Right now I have over 50,000 images in my lightroom catalog and I have gone through and edited every single one of them. SO CRAZY!
Gilbertsville Farmhouse is nestled in the hills close to the Catskills and is quite frankly one of my most favorite venues. I have watched these guys morph from a simple rustic wedding venue to an elegant, full service wedding experience. Some of their staff has remained the same (shout out Katie to who is always one of my most favorite faces to see when I’m on site!) and they have since added catering and an INCREDIBLE coordinator, Brandon. Coordinating a wedding is no easy task, especially when it’s a Gilbertsville Farmhouse wedding. The spread of this venue and all of the details that need to fall into place demands someone who can multitask and Brandon handles it with grace. I didn’t think there was anyone more organized than myself out there but he has me beat by miles.
When I first met Kristen and Casey I knew immediately that their wedding day would be epic. They had such beautiful chemistry and they were so easy to photograph. Kristen also works in the wedding industry as a live illustration artist, calligrapher and designer for custom invitations. Her work is stunning. Just. Stunning. I sat here for a while trying to find something more descriptive that would do her work justice but you just have to see it for yourself. I highly recommend heading over to her IG page, @kpcodesignstudio, and following her. I’m obsessed. Of course she did her own invitations and they were a masterpiece.
Thankfully Kristen and Casey had a bright and sunny day for their wedding. Every single wedding I had after this, it rained. This day was the epitome of perfect weather and it gave me all the bright and airy light to work with.
Wedding advice! Don’t skimp on flowers. I’ve seen so many up and coming brides scoffing at the price of flowers who clearly don’t recognize all of the hard work that goes into acquiring and creating for a wedding. Flowers make your wedding. They bring the ambiance, they compliment the dress, they compliment YOU, they bring joy to your guests and they make little pink hearts pop out of your photographers eyeballs. I’m always stoked to photograph real flowers at a wedding. Jenn from Jenn’s Sticks and Stems worked on this wedding with me and the eye this woman has for florals is really one of a kind. Kristen wanted strawberries in her bouquet and Jenn made it work so perfectly. One of my most iconic images from this wedding is Kristen in the center of all the bridesmaid bouquets and I keep it pinned to the top of my IG page because I can’t get over how perfect the flowers are and, of course, how perfect Kristen is. Just look at her in her pretty robe, vintage lingerie and fluffy slippers.
Before we did a first look with Casey, we did a first look with Kristen’s bridesmaids. I loved the candid expressions from this hype team.
Up above the farm is a little alcove of trees lined with stumps and candles. Just a short buggy ride up the hill and it’s the perfect place for a first look. Kristen and Casey chose to read their personal vows right after the first look and it was one of my most favorite parts of the day. Casey had to keep walking away because he couldn’t get through his vows without choking up. It was so sweet to witness.
Right after vows we went right into bride & groom photos and bridal party photos. I always recommend doing as many photos before the ceremony as possible so it frees you up to enjoy your cocktail hour. Cocktail hour at Gilbertsville Farmhouse is not one you want to miss. Especially when there’s a miniature donkey clopping around serving cold drinks. Stay tuned for that!
Picking out my top favorite photos to share was near impossible. I returned over a 1000 images back to Kristen and Casey so going through them and making those decisions was near torture. Sometimes I just want to share the full album because I love them all so much. But these are the ones I settled on and I’m so excited for you to see them. <3
There are lots of spaces to choose from for your ceremony at Gilbertsville Farmhouse but the top favorite (and with good reason) is the ceremony space atop the hill with views for days. Occasionally a turkey will pop in for a wedding day cameo and who doesn’t love that?
The cocktail hour and reception space is gorgeous. It’s what all rustic wedding day dreams are made of. There are two great pyrenees dogs that gently greet guests and take naps in favorite spots while catering staff bustle around serving the most delectable hors d’oeuvres. There are tables heaped with fruit, cheese and other yummy treats. The band plays in the background while bar staff keeps everyone hydrated and the smell of high quality cooking wafts through the crowd. The staff is friendly, the guests are cheerful and charmed as a miniature donkey pauses for pets and with Brandon running the show, the night just slowly cascades from one event to another.
Of course, there is ALWAYS time for pictures with baby goats and an epic sunset that results in photographs meant to be printed in large format to hang in your foyer. Gilbertsville Farmhouse has a massive fire pit to tie up the night and you know there’s s’mores makings nearby.
Gilbertsville Farmhouse is one of my most favorite wedding venues to visit and I can’t wait to go back again. A huge shoutout to ALL of the staff and Boustani family for making this day so perfect. And also a huge thanks to Kristen and Casey for choosing me as their wedding photographer. It’s always an honor to be entrusted with ones wedding day.
Check out these awesome vendors who also makes this day so incredible…
Photographer: Jen Pecka Photography – jenpeckaphotography.com
Venue: Gilbertsville Farmhouse – gilbertsvillefarmhouse.com
Bouquet/Flowers: Jenn’s Sticks and Stems – jennssticksandstems.com
Invitations: KP & Co. Design Studio <—the bride!! – kpcodesignstudio.com
Band: Silver Arrow Band – silverarrowband.com
Dress: Lambs Hill – lambshillbridalboutique.com
Rings: Good Old Gold – goodoldgold.com
Videographers: Pioneer Media – pioneerpd.com
Cake: The Hudson Cake Studio – thehudsoncakestudio.com
Catering: Gilbertsville Farmhouse
Hair/MUA: @sarajuliannabeauty – sarajuliannabeauty.com
